“You grew up in Cleveland, went to Cleveland Heights High—an Indians fan—you told me so in the French Pyrenees on our last mission,” my Mossad agent girlfriend, Avra reminds me. “Are you kidding me? The Tribe to the death. They broke my heart so many times. It was my father’s dream that they’d win a … Read more
Sure, I once ran a 10.9 hundred-yard dash in 10th grade—pretty good for a white Jewish kid from Cleveland Heights High School. Another amazing phenomenon: my wife and I hiked from Taos to Santa Fe and to an elevation of 13,000 feet…above the clouds. Now, I love the confidence of a good old-fashioned railing…pretty smart … Read more
Therapeutic catharsis opens my soul as I put pencil to paper. Confessing, purging, healing, and expanding my horizons—the mind-blowing benefits that I derive from writing. Besides helping me learn through investigation and research, it exercises my old brain cells that need constant maintenance. Like physical workouts that develop the osteo, cardio, and muscular components of … Read more
It’s all in the eye of the beholder. What is normal? What does upside down mean or its corollary—right side up? Left or right? In reference to what? … the observer or the creator? So, what’s the Metaverse? It’s that strange place that exists somewhere—but where? I’ll bet my 11-year-old granddaughter, Chloe, can tell you; … Read more
Well, it has been over twelve hours since the Buckeye’s sad loss—time to move on. After all, my sixteen-year-old granddaughter, Aliyah, is awestruck by the new prospects, the hope, and the opportunity, that 2023 offers. “It’s a fresh start,” she says, “with so many possibilities!” The wonderment of a child is so pure, and as … Read more
I am a pantser. Unlike with Google Maps, my destination is superfluous. I don’t need to know where I’m going when embarking on a writing adventure—just need to write. “Put the damn pencil to paper, and everything else will take care of itself!” I tell myself. “Just enjoy the ride.” As a runner, I found … Read more
The process of writing is unique to every author. Like artists—with their special paints, paper, and brushes—writers use whatever makes them comfortable. Stephen King swears by #2 pencils. Neil Gaiman loves his Waterman fountain pen—even changes the color every day. Simone de Beauvoir was infatuated with the Schaefer Snorkel pen. Me… like my hero, King, … Read more
What is the written word? It can be anything—the Bible or a stop sign. Does it tell a story or send a message? It really doesn’t matter because the writer and the reader may have altered perspectives. Like with the visual arts, the creation and the creator may be in a different metaverse. Likewise, the … Read more